By Brandon Kinsella
19-year-old powerlifter Gerald Martinez brought home gold medals at the Las Vegas Winter Open on Saturday, picking up 1st place in both the junior and the open division at 82.5kg / 181lb, and also winning best overall lifter in the junior division.
The road to gold has not been an easy one for Martinez, a 2018 graduate of FD and current sophomore at UOG. Lots of dedication, hard work, and sacrifice went into the entire journey. Martinez elaborated on some of the sacrifices he had to make in preparation for the competition.
“I started my diet four months out to avoid any serious cutting needed. I went from a lazy 197lbs to 183lbs and I’ve never felt better. I had to change my lifestyle around, and I started noticing results in my training regimen immediately. I started to get stronger which was great because I was at a much lighter weight,” said Martinez.
The hard work paid off for Martinez, as he took home first in his division to go with some impressive numbers:
Lifts
Squat: 200.4kg / 440.9lbs
Bench: 115.2kg / 253.5lbs
Deadlift: 230.5kg / 507.1lbs
Martinez elaborated on how honored he was to be able to represent Guam at the competition.
“Being able to represent the island in the manner that I did was a blessing. I wanted to represent Guam and show how down to Earth and humble we are, but I also wanted to show to never count us out.”
Martinez acknowledged that he couldn’t have accomplished what he did on his own, and gave a big thank you to everyone in his corner that helped him along the way.
“First off I’d like to thank God for answering my prayers, keeping me and my family safe and healthy. I’d also like to thank my other half Leah, for meal prepping for me and handling me and the meet, she did so amazing and was a big part of my performance. My mom and Uncle Bill for the never-ending support and understanding how I was during my prep when I first got out to Vegas. I want to thank my family back home, my Dad, Auntie Kat, my Nana and Papa, everybody, they are always behind me. My friends and extended family. They always got my back, and lastly, my second family: Coach Chris, Josh, Grace, AJ, Bobat, Tone, Romar, Vinnie, and Kevin. I’m missing some people but all these guys and the rest you know who you are, they all guided me and always offered advice and I was just a sponge for all their experience. Lots of people in my corner, I couldn’t have done this alone.”
As for what’s next for Martinez, he says he is going to enjoy a nice off-season and when the next competition rolls around, it’s back to business.
GPS Sports Calendar
March 2024
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for February
1st
ISA SOFTBALL
IIAAG MS GIRLS SOCCER FINALS
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
HS RUGBY PLAYOFFS
Events for March
2nd
HS RUGBY
ISA GIRLS SOFTBALL
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for March
2nd
Events for March
4th
ISA HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
ISA SOFTBALL ALL-ISLAND COACHES MEETING
Events for March
5th
HS RUGBY PLAYOFFS
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for March
8th
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
ISA HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS PLAYOFFS
Events for March
9th
ISA SOFTBALL FINALS
HS RUGBY FINALS
Events for March
9th
Events for March
14th
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
Events for March
16th
Events for March
17th
Events for March
18th
Events for March
19th
Events for March
20th
Events for March
22nd
Events for March
24th
Events for March
25th
Events for March
27th
Events for March
28th
Events for March
29th
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Events for March
30th
Soccer
ISLANDERS OUTSHOOT DOLPHINS
Uncategorized
4TH QUARTER SPORTS SET FOR TAKE OFF
Soccer
ISLANDERS OUTSHOOT DOLPHINS
Uncategorized
4TH QUARTER SPORTS SET FOR TAKE OFF
COMING SOON …
4th Quarter Sports
- Guam Marathon